JAPAN’S JIROEMON KIMURA CONFIRMED AS OLDEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED AT 115 YEARS, 253 DAYS

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Jiroemon pictured earlier this year with Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday

Guinness World Records can today confirm that Japan's Jiroemon Kimura is, at the age of 115 years 253 days, now the Oldest Man Ever, as well as the Oldest Living Man and the Oldest Living Person.

Mr Kimura surpasses the current Guinness World Records holder for the oldest authenticated age reached by a man - Thomas Peter Thorvald Kristian Ferdinand 'Christian' Mortensen, who lived to 115 years, 252 days.

Kimura gained the Guinness World Record for Oldest Living Person on 17 December 2012 after Dina Manfredini (US) passed away aged 115 years, 257 days.

Jiroemon Kimura, who lives in Kyotango City, Kyoto, was born on 19 April 1897 and is only the third man in history to reach 115 years old.

He has lived across three centuries which have seen immense social and technological advances including the advent of motor vehicles, television, the internet and six UK Monarchs, five Emperors of Japan and 20 US Presidents.

From 1914, Mr. Kimura worked at the Post Office until the age of 65, when he retired but continued to engage in agriculture until he was 90.

He has an astonishing 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 13 great, great grandchildren.

His personal motto is 'eat light to live long' and believes the key to his longevity is to be a healthy, small eater.

Japan is the country with the most centenarians in the world per capita; Okinawa has the highest concentration of centenarians, where the ratio is 50 per 100,000 people.

Additionally, the record for the oldest average age is also held by Japan, where the median age - that is, the age at which there are an equal number of people above and below - is a record high of 44.7.

However, the oldest person ever to have lived is Jeanne Calment (France) who lived to 122 years and 164 days.

Commenting on today's news, Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday said: "The record for oldest living man lies at the very heart of Guinness World Records, and to be able to present Mr Kimura his third Guinness World Records title is truly an honour. Kimura-san is an exceptional person; we know of only four other male supercentenarians alive today, and incredibly, he is only the third man in history to reach the age of 115."